Analysis of Politics, Philosophy and Economics from a Marxist Perspective

Friday, 30 August 2013

Cameron Fatally Wounded

British Imperialism
was damaged last night. The vote against another imperialist war in
the Middle East was in the end a result of the opposition to such
adventures that is now prevalent amongst the British working-class
after Iraq. That opposition made itself felt as pressure on MP's of
all parties. The fact that British Imperialism was weakened also
weakened to an extent US Imperialism that has used British support as
cover in the past. That is good news for the global working-class,
because a weakened Imperialism means a weakened global capitalist
class. But, if British Imperialism was damaged, David Cameron
himself was fatally wounded.

In recent months, it
has been clear that Cameron has no control over his party. The
right-wing of the Tories have pushed increasingly for a more narrowly
nationalistic policy over Europe, and policies even more attuned to
the interests of the small capitalist base they represent. The
success of UKIP in drawing votes away from that base has pressured
them even more, and forced Cameron into increasing moves to the
Right. In part, that same narrow-nationalist focus was partly behind
the attitude of some Tory right wingers in opposing another war.
That small-capital base they represent is more concerned with keeping
taxes down than with fitting in with the global strategic ambitions
of Imperialism.

Cameron is only
likely to see increasing challenges to his leadership on such issues
from those same backbenchers who were unhappy with his leadership.
But, also one of his only lines of attack against Ed Miliband over
recent months has been to claim that he was a weak leader. Having
become the first Prime Minister to fail to get the backing of
Parliament to fight a war in 200 years, having failed largely because
of the fact that large numbers of his own party voted against him, he
can hardly throw those stones from the position of the glass house he
now occupies.

Not only Cameron was
damaged. Nick Clegg and the Liberal leadership have become
indistinguishable from the Tories. Some of them, like Danny
Alexander, are if anything more Tory than the Tories. They have been
branded with the mark of Cain now as much as Cameron. The kudos they
previously had in opposing the Iraq War was lost when they supported
the war against Libya, but yesterday was worse for them, because they
stood shoulder to shoulder with Cameron and the other warmongers, and
lost. As with every other aspect of Government policy the liberals
will suffer for it at the next election.

It is not as though
the position adopted by Ed Miliband and labour was particularly
radical anti-imperialism – though it was a far better position
than the usual pro-imperialist, pro-jihadist position adopted by the AWL. As usual, the AWL refused to oppose the war plans of imperialism,
even bragging about the failure to adopt that basic position for
socialists, and thereby put themselves again on the side of the
imperialists by default, and the side of the vile jihadists who will
be the ones to benefit from the bombs raining down on the people of
Syria, just as they have done in Iraq, and Libya. In fact, watching
the debate yesterday, many of the Tory backbenchers had a better
stance than that adopted by the AWL, which is an indication of just
what a pathetic gang they have become.

In fact, Labour's
amendment also fell. Some Labour MP's refused to support it because
they rightly believed it left the door open to Labour supporting
intervention at some point in the future. Tories undoubtedly voted
against it, because although they were prepared to vote against
Cameron, they were not prepared to vote for Labour. But, it also
appears that Miliband changed his original position because he faced
opposition from within the party for a position that seemed too
friendly to Cameron.

The weakening of
Cameron and British Imperialism, and the fact that Miliband was
forced to stiffen his position should give heart to the British
working-class. We should utilise it to oppose other aspects of
Liberal-Tory policy, and demand that Miliband stiffen his position of
opposition to austerity and other attacks on British workers.

About Me

Left school at 16. Became an ASTMS shop steward at 19, and a lifelong trade union activist. Delegate to North Staffs Trades Council 1974-87. Secretary North Staffs Miners Support Committee 1984-5. President North Staffs Trades Council 1985-6 and 1986-7. Delegate to Staffordshire Association of Trades Councils 1985-7. Delegate West Midlands Regional Council of the TUC 1985-7. Secretary Newcastle UNISON 2000-2.
Member of the International Communist League/Workers Socialist League 1974-87.
Went to University as mature student at age of 24. Obtained Joint Honours Degree in Economics and Politics with Philosophy and Statistics, followed by a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
Labour Party member since 1974. Stoke City Councillor 1983-4, expelled from Labour group 1983, and resigned from Council in 1984 because of refusing to vote for rent and rate rises, and budget cuts. Staffordshire County Councillor 1997-2005.
Assistant Secretary Stoke District Labour Party 1981, and held pretty much every position from Executive member, to Branch Secretary, and Branch Chair.